Orpheus speelt op zijn harp voor de dieren 1917 - 1920

Henri van der Stok made this print, "Orpheus speelt op zijn harp voor de dieren," using woodcut. The stark contrast between black and white gives it a real graphic punch, doesn't it? I find the textures fascinating; the way he uses the wood grain to suggest different foliage and animal textures is so skillful. Look at the lion's mane, how each individual curl is carved out, giving it a real sense of volume and movement. And then, contrast that with the smooth, flat planes of the animals’ bodies. It’s like he’s playing with different ways of seeing, different ways of representing form. It reminds me a bit of the German Expressionists like Kirchner, who were also exploring the expressive possibilities of woodcut. Ultimately, this print is a testament to the power of process, to the way that a simple material like wood can be transformed into something so evocative and emotionally resonant.